The flower starts as a seed (or females could be cloned), then go through a vegetative state where we can determine their sex.  The male plants are separated from the female plants so the pollen doesn't spread.  The males are then used to pollenate the females or mature, get stripped, & are used for apparel, fuel, energy, food, paper, fabric, sails, & tons of other things.  

In the Fall, female flowers, or seedless flowers, mature, develop buds, are harvested, manicured, dried, & cured.

In the Spring, plants are either re-planted or begin to re-grow from last years stock.